The longtime and well-respected District Attorney of Santa Cruz County, Bob Lee, announced on Wednesday that he is stepping down from "the greatest job that any person could ever have."

The longtime and well-respected District Attorney of Santa Cruz County, Bob Lee, announced on Wednesday that he is stepping down from "the greatest job that any person could ever have."

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Updated: 1:02 PM PDT Oct 9, 2014

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WEBVTT CRUZ COUNTY DISTRICTATTORNEY BOB LEE ISSTEPPING DOWN.HE SAYS HIS BATTLEWITH CANCER WON'TALLOW HIM TO CONTINUEWITH HIS FOURTH TERMIN OFFICE THIS JANUARY.ACTION NEWSREPORTER PHIL GOMEZ ISLIVE IN SANTA CRUZWITH WHAT IS ANABSOLUTE TRAGEDY FORTHIS COMMUNITY ANDALL WHO KNOW HIM..#ELECTED TO HISFOURTH TERM IN JUNEBOB LEE IS STEPPINGDOWN DUE TO HEALTHREASONS; HE RELEASED ASTATEMENT TODAYSAYING HE'S BEENBATTLING CANCER FORTHE LAST SEVERALMONTHS "EVERY OUNCEOF HIS STREGNTH ANDENGERGY WILL BEREQUIRED TO FIGHT THISINSIDIOUS DISEASE. " ASYOU CAN IMAGINE THOSEIN THE LAWENFORCEMENT FAMILYARE SADDENED BY THENEWS.THERE WAS A CLUESOMETHING WAS WRONGLAST JUNE WHENDISTRICT ATTORNEY BOBLEE WAS ABSENT FROMBUDGET HEARINGS WITHTHE SANTA CRUZCOUNTY BOARD OFSUPERVISORS.I spoke to bob Lee and he wantsto send his deepest regrets thathe cannot be here personally toaddress you and speak to you.THE REASON FOR HISABSENCE WAS MADEPUBLIC TODAY.HE'S BEEN BATTLINGCANCER FROM SEVERALMONTHS IN A WRITTENSTATEMENT LEE STATED:"I have won many battlesbut, quite frankly, seemto be losing thewar."SERVING ASDISTRICT ATTORNEY FORTHE LAST TWELVE YEARSWAS IMPORTANT.This community means everythingto him and he is so proved asyoucan tell from the statementsthathe has made to be the DsitrictAttorney in the county and it'sincredibly sad for him to stepaway in January.BOB LEE WAS SELDOMSEEN AROUND THEOFFICE IN RECENTMONTHS, ALTHOUGH HEREPORTEDLY LEFT THEHOSPITAL SO HE COULDATTEND THIS NEWSCONFERENCE LAST APRILTO ANNOUNCE A NEWGET TOUGH PROGRAMREPEAT OFFENDERSDOWNTOWN.BUT AROUND THECOURTHOUSE AND THOSEWITHIN THE LAWENFORCEMENTCOMMUNITY ARE SAD TOSEE ONE OF THEIR OWNSTEP DOWN FROM THEPROFESSION HE LOVED.Bob was a part of being at mywedding.Coming to the hosptial when myfirst son was born. I rememberwhen I became Mayor of ScottsValley. He was there thatnight."BUT SINCE LEE WON'T BE THERETO FINISH HIS FOURTH TERM ASDISTRICT ATTORNEY THEBOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILLHAVE TO CHOOSE AREPLACEMENT.LEE RECOMMEND HIS CHIEFDEPUTY JEFF ROSELLBob's public letter that he sentout explains the health issuesthatmeans that Jeff will take overinan interim role and come Januarythe board of supervisors willhaveto make an appointment that willbe valid until the next generalelection which will be 2016.Right now, we should focus theattention on Bob Lee and hiopethat Bob gets better and put allout supporting all his effortstoget better.IN THE COURTROOM BOBWAS SERIOUS ON CRIMEOUTSIDE THECOURTROOM HE ENJOYEDLAUGHING THISREPORTER GOT TOEXPERIENCE THAT SIDEOF HIM DURING THE LASTHOLIDAY SEASON.BOB AND HIS WIFEBARBARA HAS BEENRECEIVING A LOT OFSUPPORT FROM FRIENDS,COLLEGUES ANDNEIGHBORS IN HIS

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Santa Cruz reacts to Bob Lee stepping down as District Attorney

The longtime and well-respected District Attorney of Santa Cruz County, Bob Lee, announced on Wednesday that he is stepping down from "the greatest job that any person could ever have."